Conveyer



Get. 23, 1928.

l. G. FOWLER CONVEYER Filed Spt. 23, 1926 3 She'ets-Sheet Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,698

I. e. FOWLER CONVEYER Filed Sept. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MM 7 mm Patented Get. 23, 1928.

satires sra'rss IVAL e. FOWLER, or TOLEDO, OHIO, assrenoa TO THE nnwennronn rears COMPANY, OF aossronn, OHIO, a oonrona'rron or OHIO.

GLASS OONVEYER.

Application filed September 23, 1926. Serial No. 137,193.

This invention relates to conveyers and particularly to those adapted for conveying glass in either plate or continuous sheet form and in a semi-molten or plastic condition from a forming point to a leer for annealing, the conveying means being in the form of an endless belt.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved conveyer of this character having provision for the rapid and easy removal of a conveyor belt therefrom and the substitution of another therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

While the invention inv its broader aspect is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the conveyer embodying the invention with a part broken away and in association at one end with me ans for supplying molten glass in continuous sheet form thereto. Fig. 2 is an opposite side elevation of the conveyer and sheet glass supplying means with parts broken away. Fig. 3 1s an enlarged cross-section on the lines 83 in each of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section on the lines t4 in each of Figs. 1 and 2 withthe belt carrying portion of the conveyer partially tilted to upright belt removing position. Fig. 5 is a similar fragmentary cross-sectional enlargement to Fig. 1 with the belt carrying portion of the conveyer in completely elevated belt removing position, and Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Figs. 1 an d 2 with portions broken away.

The conveyor means embodying the invention includes a base frame, having two tran versely spaced longitudinally extending beams or side walls 1 and 2, and a tilting frame 3 adapted to rest in usable position on said base frame beams and being hingedly connected at one side to one of said beams, 2 in the present instance, to enable the frame 3 to be swung to vertical position when desired. The frame 3 is composed of two opposed side beams le-4, in the present instance of I-beam form, and the intermediate bracing structure 5 (Fig. 6).

A plurality of brackets 6 are secured to the outer side of one of the beams 4: in equidistantly spaced relation lengthwise thereof, and each has a downward extension 7 at its lower edge which projects between and is hingedly connected to bearing bosses 8 on the base frame sill 2, so as to permit lateral tilting of the top frame with respect to the base frame. Each bracket 6 is provided with a foot portion 9, which, when the top frame is tilted to upright position, is intended to rest on the floor or other subjacent support, as indicated in Fig. 5. Y

A large belt guiding roll 10 is carried by the top frame .3 at each and thereof, being disposed with its axis crosswise of the frame and having suitable bearings at its ends on the respective beams 1. The roll 10 at one end of thecoiiiveyer is journaled at its ends in respecof each bearing block 11 with respect to its carrying beam is efiected by a turning of a screw 13, which is threaded through a portion of the beam, and the block is clamped in adj usted position by bolts 14 projected through slots in the block and registering aperturesin the beam. In the present instance, the guide means for the bearing blocks constitutes a member 15, which is separate from the respective side beams and is secured thereto by bolts 16 (Fig. 3).

The roll 10 at the opposite end of the frame is carried at each end by a bearing 17, which is stationary with respect to the respective side beam 4;.

The rolls 10 are connected by an endless conveyer belt 18 and has its top run supported intermediate the rolls by a set of small idler rolls 19 which connect an d are mounted in successive order in bearings 20 on the tops of the side beams 1. lhe lower run of the belt is supported in similar manner by a set of idler rolls 21, which are disposed between the base frame members 1 and 2 and have their ends j ournaled in suitable bearings 22 therein. The rolls of the top set 19 are quite closely disposed, especially at the glass-receiving end of the conveyer, so as to prevent any sagging of the belt between the rolls before the sheet glass 23 conveyed thereby has become set sufficiently to maintain its shape.

One of the rolls 1O acts as the drive for the belt 18 and, therefore, has its shaft connected to a suitable driving means. In the present instance, the drive means comprises an electric motor 24 (Fig. 6) which has its shaft in driving connection with a counter-shaft 25 carrying a pinion 26 in driving mesh with a gear 27 on the shaft with the roll 10.

The conveyer belt 23 is preferably of woven wire form with the mesh thereof suftioiently fine so that thesemi-plastic glass sheet after passing from the forming rolls is prevented from being marked by the belt wires. By using a belt of this character, a more uniform cooling of the undersurface of the sheet glass with the upper surface is obtained than is possible with a belt which is not of open mesh formation and which, therefore, more effectually' prevents radiation of heat from the undersurface of the sheet. The wire mesh foim of conveyor permits a more or less free circulation of air in contact with the under surface of the sheet and a better product is obtained by reason of the substantially uniform cooling of the two surfaces of the sheet before passing into the leer. The portions of the belt which contact with the glass prevent any retardation of the cooling of such portions' due to the smallpoints of contact and to'the rapid heat conductivity of the metal formijn'g'the belt. When it is desi'redto mount a belt on the conveyer or to change belts'the top frame 3 is'tilted 'to upright'position and thetensionoftherolls 10 on the belt released by a looseningjof the adjusting blocks 11. The tilting ofthe framein such position also facilitates a cleaning ofthe beltwhen that is desired without removing the belt from the machine.

The conveyer is shown, in the present instance, in' connection with a means for formingcontihuous sheet glassand comprises a truck 30 mounted on wheels to adapt it to be moved into or out of operative relation to the conveyer and carrying a pair of shaping ro'llsBl between which the glass passes and is rolled into'sheet form, the glass passing from the rolls down a guide 32 to the surface of the conveyer. The truck 30 is also shown as carrying a receptacle 33 for molten glass, such receptacle being mounted for tilting m vements to adapt the'glass to be poured therefrom between the rolls, as indicated. The rolls 81 are driven from a motor 34.

I wish it understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form'of't-he parts, as it is capable of numerous changes and modifications without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1., A conveye'r of the class described having a laterally tiltable frame, belt guiding means carried by the frame, an endless conveyer belt guided by said meansand removable sideways from the guide means and frame when the frame is tilted.

QYACOITVEGYGI' of the class described comrisinga base frame, a top frame mounted for lateraltilting movements on the base frame, belt guiding means carried by the top frame, an endless conveyor belt guided by said means forimovements lengthwise ofthe top frame and being laterally removable from the guide means and top frame when the frame is tilted. I

3. A conveyer of theclass described having a laterally tiltable frame, belt guiding means carried by the frame, an endless belt carried by the guide means and removable sideways therefrom and from the frame when the frame'is tilted, and means associated with the guide m'eansfor tightening or loosening the same with re'spect to the belt.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a'ba'se frame, a top frame mounted on the base frame, meanshingedly connecting one side of the top frame to the base frame to permit the topframe to be laterally tilted with respect to theba'se frame, belt guiding meanscarried by the top frame, and. an endless belt carried by the guide means and transversely removable therefrom and from the top frame when the latter is'tilted. V i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name'to this specification.

7 IVAL G. 'FOVIJER. 

